Interview
Megan E. Hinds
Megan Hinds is a Midwest artist from Champaign, Illinois. She attended Illinois State University where she received her Bachelors in Fine Art, with a focus in printmaking. By 2016, when Megan graduated magna cum laude, she had already created her first solo exhibition, ‘The Fourth Wall’.
Megan is currently in Chicago, where she continues her printmaking practice at Chicago Printmakers Collaborative.
She is constantly investigating societies collective brilliance and communication. Her hand-cut 3-dimensional intaglio prints provide the viewer with the opportunity for exploration and discovery.
Megan has had 2 solo exhibitions and a number of group exhibitions. She is an award-winning artist, having received an award for best emerging artist, best 2D artist, and recognized as the best printmaker. She was recently published in Capsules Book, Curatorial Volume I, showcasing her hand-cut 3-dimensional intaglio prints.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I’m a painter and printmaker from Champaign, Illinois. After graduating from Illinois State University, I continued my printmaking career in Chicago, at Chicago Printmakers Collaborative. I create 3-dimensional intaglio prints and have enjoyed 2 solo exhibitions. Multiple Scatterings and Altered Formations, were exhibited at Jan Brandt Gallery, and Joe McCauley Gallery, Heartland Community College.”
“I would describe my work as almost an Alice-in-Wonderland tunnel. Or the layers of an onion. The 3D layers provide discovery, childlike wonder, and the belief that there is always more beneath our exteriors.”
What inspires you most?
“I am inspired by collections of items seen in the world around me. I am very much impacted by my environment. When I lived in the country, my work revolved around the collection of the insects and animals I’d see during my daily walks. During my time in Chicago, I was inspired by the collection of homes, neighborhoods, and vibrant city streets. I was also inspired by small notes I would make on my commute.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My work is to connect to travel adventures, hometowns, or our definition of home. It’s to remind the viewer of all the work it took to build their community. To call attention to all the diversity and individuality that makes your community vibrant and bold. Each pattern, layer, and building block is infused with the intention to inspire playfulness and encourage connection.”
What artists influence you most?
“I am greatly influenced by Jacob Hashimoto's artwork.”
What is your creative process like?
"I create copper etching plates by drawing through hard ground and etching them with ferric acid. I create a number of plates at once with different textures of patterns on them. Once etched, I hit the press to create a large number of prints with different color variations. With all my colors printed, I begin to create my layered designs on Illustrator. I map out what colors will be cut and what shapes they are creating. Once I create all my ‘Lego pieces’, I start assembling my pieces. I use small paper tabs to make my piece pop off the page.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I believe my role as an artist has evolved and changed. It began with creating what was important to me and making commentary on what I was observing. Now, I create to bring joy into our new definition of home. Bringing light, love, and positivity to our spaces that are now a home, classroom, therapist’s or doctor’s office, workplace, and more.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My solo exhibitions, Multiple Scatterings and Altered Formations, were exhibited at Jan Brandt Gallery, and Joe McCauley Gallery, Heartland Community College. My work has been exhibited at 40North Gallery, Spudnik Press Cooperative Annex Gallery, The Art Center, and Lincoln Land Community College.
In 2019, I was awarded best emerging artist at Ann Arbor Art Festival, best 2D artist at Naperville Fine Art Festival, and best printmaker at Deer Park Art Festival. I was recently published in Capsules Book, Curatorial Volume I, showcasing my hand cut 3-dimensional intaglio prints, which you can view here.
Links to my exhibitions:
Heartland Community Collage Solo Exhibition Altered Formations Article.
Illinois State University, Americans for the Arts, Voyage Chicago.”
Website: www.megan-hinds.com
Instagram: @Megan_prints
